This video covers forward skating progressions, teaching players—especially beginners—the fundamentals of forward skating, focusing on pushing, gliding, and proper mechanics to improve efficiency.
Coaching Points:
- Start with Basic Pushes: Encourage players to open their feet and push, focusing on gliding after each push to develop balance and control.
- Teach Gliding: Get players to push with one foot and glide on the other to help them understand and feel a proper glide.
- Proper Arm Movement: Ensure arms move back and forth without excessive sway, maintaining balance as players push at a 45-degree angle.
- One-Leg Push Focus: Emphasize a straight glide leg to prevent side-to-side movement, improving straight-line skating.
- Lengthen the Stride: Once basics are understood, teach players to lengthen their stride by pushing out fully and snapping the toe.
- Drag and Snap: Use the "drag and snap" method to fully extend the stride and improve power and efficiency while skating.
